Tackling Summer Read Online Free PDF Page A

about Christine’s face. It was more relaxed than usual. Life had been rough for her since her husband rolled a tractor over himself. Most women would have packed it up and moved to town, rather than raise their family on their own an hour away from town, but Christine loved the ranch and wanted her kids to grow up there. Though her actions never showed it, her face often looked worn out.  
    “Have you heard from Seth lately?” Chanel asked.
    Christine brightened at the mention of her middle son. He and Chanel were the same age and had been inseparable until they’d gone off to different universities hundreds of miles apart. “He called last night. He has finals next week.”
    Chanel nodded. She and Seth either talked or exchanged texts every day. Now that she was back on the ranch with no cell reception, they’d have to use e-mail. “He mentioned coming home for a while this summer.”
    “He hinted at it with me last night. I figured you would know more,” Christine said.  
    Seth and his mother were close, but he hadn’t felt at home on the ranch since he came out his senior year of high school. David stopped speaking to him. Chanel was thankful her father never changed how he acted around Seth, and though the other cowboys were kind, they seemed a bit uncomfortable around the young man they’d known since he was a little kid. Chanel had known about Seth for years, and it broke her heart when he wasn’t embraced by all the people he loved once they knew the real him.  
    “He really misses home,” Chanel said. Christine and Jessi went to visit him in Eugene, Oregon at least once a year. Always strapped for cash, it was hard for Chanel and Seth to pull off regular visits. It had been two years since she’d seen him face to face. Technology was great, but it didn’t take the place of actually seeing her best friend.
    “I know.” Christine wrapped an arm around her niece’s shoulders and gave a squeeze.  
    Chanel rested her head against Christine and closed her eyes. She didn’t know how Seth managed to stay away from home for so long. Yes, things could be awkward here, but she knew once someone had lived in these mountains, they could never let them go. They replenished her, and she knew Seth was in need of what only this place could give him.
    Dogs barking broke into Chanel’s thoughts.
    “Sounds like they made it back from town,” Christine said.
    Chanel followed her onto the front porch to see Mitch’s gray truck bounce up the drive. Jessi beamed through the windshield as she sat sandwiched between Maddox and her uncle in the front seat. The girl leaned heavily toward Maddox, pressing her side body flush against him. Every high school girl’s dream come true, Chanel thought. Why hadn’t her father kicked her little butt into the backseat? She’d have to keep an eye on Maddox round the clock to make sure he didn’t try anything. It was going to be a long summer.  

    ***

    Maddox thunked a case of beer on the moving belt at the checkout counter, followed by cans of soup and chili, macaroni mix, frozen pizzas, and several boxes of cereal. He’d never seen such a small grocery store in his life. The selection was crummy, and Coach would tear his head off if he could see Maddox’s summer menu. That’s ok, he thought, Talbot would realize what a stupid idea it was to ship him off to the boondocks when he came back soft and weak from malnourishment. Despite slacking in other areas, Maddox had always eaten well, but he’d always had someone to cook for him.
    The woman running the register gave him a wink. She looked to be a little older than him, with a few lines around her eyes, but her body was trim and her rack was full.
    “Someone must be batchin’ it,” she said. The name Lila was printed on the name tag clipped above one of those tempting boobs.
    “Yeah, I’m kinda new at this,” Maddox said giving her the full wattage smile that had coaxed dozens of hot coeds into his bed or the less